Bouncebackability Not Needed | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Bouncebackability Not Needed | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Gage
06/11/14
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

“Sammy!” the stranger whispered. “I’m Pastor Jim. I don’t know if you can hear me. Do you know where you are?”

“Damn it!” Sam’s thoughts screamed.
“Yes, for the hundredth time, yes! I can hear all of you! I’m in this hospital trapped in this bed!”

“Sammy,” the pastor calmly spoke the name that Sam’s wife thought he would respond to.

“Sammy?! Who does he think he is?” Only Mom and my wife call me Sammy.

Though he tried with all his might to push him away, Sam couldn't move a muscle. Sam was totally incapacitated from a stroke. He had heard the doctors and nurses talking about his condition. Words of ‘not much hope’ and ‘it’s so sad’ along with ‘he’s so young.’

Sam yearned to yell, “Wait! You’re talking about me! I’m right here. I hear you! And let me tell you; at 7 I wiped-out on my bike, broke my arm and got right back up! At 18 I crushed my ankle in a motorcycle accident. It didn’t slow me down! Then once . . . “

The stranger’s voice broke through his racing thoughts.

“Sammy, I’m here to tell you that God loves you.”
“God loves me?” In this moment the thought was ludicrous to Sam.
“Squeeze my hand.”

Sam was sure this was the physical therapist, belting commands to move body parts that he could not move.

“Sammy, God loves you so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die for your sins. In His great compassion for you, for your wife Julie and for everyone, Jesus paid the price so that we could have everlasting life! I know that your body is not working right now. But God promises us a new body. Sammy, this is temporary.” Pastor Jim thought he said too much for Sammy to comprehend; if he could even hear him. He backed away and said a silent prayer to God asking for wisdom.

“Oh brother, this is that preacher Julie is always going on about. How can he call me Sammy? He doesn’t even know me!”

The pastor re-approached, “Sam, I know I don’t know you, but God does. He is here now and has been with you your whole life.”

“That was weird.’ Thought Sam.“God has been with me my whole life, humph?”

Unable to verbalize, Sam’s mind went a mile-a-minute. “I broke my arm, crushed my ankle, got hit head-on by that truck and beat cancer. This ole body has been through a lot and bounced back just fine. This will be no different. They’ll all see, Julie, doctors and nurses!”

He then recalled, “It’s gonna be a lot of work to take care of him- that’s if he lasts very long.” An aide commented as she and another rolled him back and forth and bathed him.

Sam hated having to be cared for this way, but he had no choice in the matter. A tear trailed down his cheek. Jim gently wiped Sam’s face with a tissue.

“Sam. You have a choice to make.”

Sam’s heart leaped while his body lay motionless.

“You can choose to believe in Jesus. He died for our sins and God’s power raised Jesus from death. God made our bodies. He knows everything about them, He allows them to heal but a time will come when this body fails us. Jesus will never fail nor leave you.”

Sam’s body couldn’t move but in this moment his spirit did! New life rushed through him. Jesus was the One Julie always talked about; saved us, need to thank, forgives us, died for us. Sam remembered in a new light. The bike crash, his ankle, head-on collision and cancer. Visions of his life replaying, only clearer. The same memories but this time he saw God there!

Terror struck, “Maybe I’m already dead! Was I supposed to make this choice long ago? Like after that terrible spill on my bike when Mom said, ‘Sammy, thank God you didn’t get killed.’”

“Sam?” A relieved Sam heard Jim. He was not dead.

A nurse interrupted. “Time for Sam’s therapy.”

Jim prayed aloud, squeezed Sam’s hand and left saying, “Sammy, God loves you!”

Sam’s heart smiled. “I know. I believe
it! Whatever happens, I know God is with me.”

God created our bodies fearfully and wonderfully. When the time comes that they don’t bounce back, for those who trust in Jesus Christ, there will someday be a body that there is no need for bouncebackability.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.